Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! (James 1:22)

I remember being at a Christmas eve service many years ago, when the Church was packed, with additional visiting families as well as all the children.

Half an hour into the Service, the ushers walked a lady timidly down our aisle with her three young daughters held close. Even though there was little room, my wife made us scrunch up to let them sit alongside us. They stood out like a sore thumb.

Turns out she was a recent (very unhappy) divorcee from Switzerland and, watching one of our Church services online, had simply decided to trade a lonely Christmas in her hometown for one that she thought would be 'as it should be.'

So, like the emigrants of old, she simply packed the car with her kids and drove out to our Church - in Faith!

They had nowhere to stay, little (if any) money, and could hardly speak any English. It was like something from the Christmas Message where there was no room at the Inn for Jesus!

All the regular Church hospitality places were filled, and it looked hopeless when my wife suddenly stopped me searching, and 'insisted' that they come back with us and stay over Christmas! Four of them and five of us - Hallelujah!!

We had the BEST CHRISTMAS ever! The kids all played well together, and by the time the lady and her children travelled back home to Switzerland, we were ALL BLESSED!

Lord, help me to be as you created me to be. ❤️